Page 21 of Rescued Love
I scrunch my nose up at him, but I have nothing to say because he’s not wrong. I’m more than willing to put in hours of work, but I don’t have to do any of it in the heavy suits or air tanks Wesley and the guys at the fire station wear.
“Probably,” I grumble, not too pleased with being called out on my lack of strength. “But you guys like train and run drills and work out and shit.”
His bark of laughter has my best friend’s eyes glittering as she takes him in. A streak of jealousy hits my heart, but I bat it away. There’s no room for that feeling in our friendship and I wouldn’t want my friend to go without the man who was meant for her just because I’m feeling a little lonely. That just wouldn’t be right.
I glance over when the doors to The Goose open and a man’s laughter floats our way. I grin when I see Ansel and Dixon walking in. They scan the room before finding us at a table near the bar. Ansel gives me a chin lift when he meets my eyes before they head to the bar to grab a drink.
I’m sure they’ll be joining us even though they could probably sit elsewhere or hit on any of the single women at the bar. But the last time I saw Ansel, he mentioned that they were planning to head out the sanctuary today to help and they know I always want an update when they go out there.
The memory of Nathan’s pissed off face hits me hard. Is he going to force the issue and insist I leave Mr. Jacobson alone even though I’ve never done anything malicious to the man whose love for animals rivals my own? I haven’t mentioned my encounter with Nathan to anyone except Hailey.
I wince slightly when I realize that I probably should have called Ansel and let him know about the surly grandson being on the property. Hailey notices my reaction and arches an eyebrow at me in question. I can only shrug in response because she has probably guessed what I’m thinking about; more like who I’m thinking about.
I’m almost surprised she didn’t ride off toward Mr. Jacobson’s sanctuary after I told her about my encounter with Nathan. I almost giggle at the mental image of her rolling up there with dust from the long drive swirling around her vehicle and smoke coming out of her ears before she gets in Nathan’s face.
She’s not someone who loves confrontation. People have underestimated her because of that and assumed she’s soft, but she’s not. She’ll walk away from confrontation when it concerns her, if she can, but when it involves someone that she loves? Watch the fuck out.
She’ll go full nuclear in about two seconds without a hint of remorse. It’s kind of a beautiful sight, though I’d never tell her that.
I’m sure the only thing that stopped her at the time was her focusing on me and making me feel better. That’s the kind of person she is.
If she comes across him in public, she won’t say anything, and she’ll be friendly and polite. Now, does that mean she won’t be judging Nathan in her head? Not even a little bit. I’m sure she’s already given him a scathing nickname.
When our eyes meet again, hers are filled with mirth and I know I’m right.
I hope Ansel and Dixon got a better welcome reception from Nathan than I did. The thought of Mr. Jacobson not having the help he needs because of misconceptions makes my heart ache. He might not ask for the help, but the man needs it, and the town is more than willing to provide it.
Mr. Jacobson gives so much more to the community than he receives anyway.
Dixon and Ansel, with beers in their hands, make their way over to us both grabbing chairs from nearby tables as they do. My eyebrows pull together in confusion because that means there is one empty chair at our table. I’m not expecting anyone else to join us.
When I throw a curious look at Hailey, she shrugs one shoulder as if she’s just as clueless as I am.
Well, okay then.
Ansel drops into the chair he pulls up next to me, wraps his arm around my shoulders, and gives a squeeze. “Hey darlin’,” he drawls. “How are you doing?”
I grin at one of my oldest friends. If Hailey weren’t in my life, he would have the position of best friend. There’s always been a sibling-like relationship between us, one where we sometimes annoy the other, but always have the other’s back. It’s nice, especially since I don’t have any siblings of my own.
“I’m good.” I flash him a smile before leaning around him and eyeing Dixon. He was in the same grade as Ansel, Hailey, and I in school, but we weren’t really friends back then. “How can you come in here on your day off?”
Dixon barks out a laugh and winks at me as he shrugs. “You know, when we met Nathan out at the sanctuary, he asked me the same thing when we mentioned we were coming out for drinks tonight after I mentioned where I work.”
My back goes ramrod straight at the first mention of Nathan’s name. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Ansel who leans into me and whispers, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I mumble and shake my head as I force myself to relax.
Hailey’s eyebrows scrunch up in the adorable way she has while trying to seem innocent like I haven’t told her about my encounter out at the sanctuary. “Who is Nathan?”
“I’m shocked this hasn’t already come through the town gossip mill,” Ansel’s voice is filled with amusement as he answers her, “but Nathan is Mr. Jacobson’s grandson.”
Hailey lets out a small huff as she sits back in her chair and makes a humming sound. The way she’s pointedly not looking at me is suspicious as hell. I’m just glad she’s not forcing me to mention my interaction with the man. “You know,” she muses, “I always assumed he doesn’t have any family. I don’t remember any visiting him.”
I shake my head at my best friend and murmur, “I don’t remember anyone visiting him either. His kid probably moved away and then didn’t come back.”
There’s a moment of silence around the table because we all understand exactly what I’m talking about. There are those who stay and those who leave. If someone comes back, it was because they always intended to, or something happened, and they needed a safe haven. Those who leave and plan to come back are in the minority.
I’m not sure I can blame them for wanting more than Sweetwater Valley can offer them. Part of me understands the appeal. I also know that would never be for me.